Joe Walsh: I lost my radio show after launching Trump challenge

U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Nov. 15, 2011. Walsh, a former Illinois congressman, said he'll challenge President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2020. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo, File)

Joe Walsh, a presidential GOP candidate, claimed Monday night that he lost his national radio show in the days since he announced an effort to challenge President Trump.

Walsh appeared on CNN and was asked how his main challenge to Trump affected his conservative radio program distributed by Salem Radio Network.

“I just found out that I lost my national radio show, so that’s gone,” Walsh told CNN anchor John Berman. “But I figured that might happen.”

“You lost it—why?” Berman asked.

“I don’t know why,” Walsh responded, “I just got a notice before I came into the studio. I’m running for president. I oppose this president. Most of my listeners support the president. It’s not an easy thing to do to be in conservative talk radio and oppose this president,” reported by Fox News.

Walsh estimated that the president is supported by “80-90 percent” of his audience.

“I knew that, John, when I made this announcement yesterday, that it could be in jeopardy,” the ex-congressman said.

Former Rep. Joe Walsh on Sunday announced his bid for the Republican presidential primary, becoming the second 2020 GOP candidate seeking to challenge President Donald Trump.

Joe Walsh won’t get much help from GOP

Unlike some other incumbents who drew primary challengers, Trump now has the overwhelming support of his party’s voters. Presidential hopefuls—from both parties—“saw their base support erode a bit before re-election efforts,” said Keith Appell, a Washington-based Republican strategist. “If anything, this president’s support has grown within his party,” according to The Associated Press.

Members of the Republican National Committee (RNC) have ended their standing debate committee ahead of next year’s election, and scheduling debates could prove to be difficult as the primary vote begins in about five months.

The RNC has also approved a nonbinding resolution declaring its “undivided support for President Donald J. Trump and his effective presidency.”

A poll conducted this month by AP-NORC found that 78% of Republicans approve of President Trump’s job performance, indicating the incumbent president continues to have the solid backing of the party.